Obama Says Islam Isn’t Responsible for Terrorism

In an interesting turn of events, president Obama has finally spoken out on religion and terrorism.

The problem is that he only spoke to make sure that everyone understands that Islam isn’t at fault for the terrorist activities of its followers. While he seemed completely comfortable blaming Christianity for the Crusades a couple of weeks ago, he is now reticent to blame any religion for any act of terror… ever.

Especially Islam.

Now, just as those of us outside Muslim communities need to reject the terrorist narrative that the West and Islam are in conflict or modern life and Islam are in conflict, I also believe that Muslim communities have a responsibility as well. Al Qaeda and ISIL do draw selectively from the Islamic texts. They do depend on the misperception around the world that they speak in some fashion for people of the Muslim faith, that Islam is somehow inherently violent. That there is some sort of clash of civilizations.